The Koenigsstuhl tour

A short two-hour walk, starting from the crossroads above the Saint-Alexis inn. You will walk around the Koenigsstuhl and reach the highest point via the easiest route.

Details

n°24624

Creation:
24 Apr 2013

Last update:
19 Aug 2023

Last review:
27 Oct 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 5.64 km
Average duration: 2h 20
Difficulty: Easy
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 245 m
Descent: - 245 m
Highest point: 936 m
Lowest point: 691 m

Country: France
Area: Vosges mountains
District: Riquewihr (68340)
Start/End: N 48.182303° / E 7.259625°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3617ET, 3617ETR, 3718OT, 3718OTR
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Description of the walk

Departure from the Saint-Alexis crossroads. You can get there by car or on foot from Riquewihr.

(D:A) From the crossroads, two parallel tracks lead north-west. Follow the one on the left, which is marked with a blue cross and slopes downhill. Do not take the one with the same markings but which is flat. At the first crossroads, before the small pond, turn left and follow the red rectangles for 500 m (^GR®). You will reach a calvary, the Croix Jean Floederer.

(1) Then stay on the carriage road, without following the section of^{the GR®} that takes a footpath. At a fork, continue on the path on the right. After 1 km, you will cross the GR^®.

(2) Take the path on the left, which leads to the rocks.

(3) Retrace your steps to the previous crossroads.

(2) Continue along the track to the left of^{the GR®} (almost in the same direction), go around the mountain to the west until you reach the fairly steep path on your right.

(4) Follow this path and you will reach the Saint-Alexis crossroads (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 691 m - Carrefour Saint-Alexis
1 : km 1.31 - alt. 779 m - Croix Jean Floederer
2 : km 2.89 - alt. 921 m - Fork in the road, left
3 : km 3.14 - alt. 936 m - Rochers du Koenigstuhl
4 : km 4.62 - alt. 831 m - Path on the right
S/E : km 5.64 - alt. 691 m - Carrefour Saint-Alexis

Notes

Note: take a map, as the appeal of this route is that it does not follow marked paths, so you will be able to enjoy peace and quiet.

There are no water sources, but at the end of the walk you can stop for a drink and a slice of pie in Saint-Alexis (closed on Fridays).

Worth a visit

You can extend the walk to Rocher du Tétras.

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5

Based on 20 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5

Route interest
4.2 / 5

User 23222357

27 Oct 2025 at 10:08 3600 • Edited: 27 Oct 2025 at 10:09 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Titine
Superb hike.

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Nine 68

11 May 2025 at 18:52 7200 • Edited: 11 May 2025 at 18:53 7200

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We finished the route with 7 km. A few points caused us problems, and we found ourselves near the rock of the grouse at point 7. Due to forestry work, the trail is a little hidden. Beautiful route until after point 2, less beautiful after that... No view, but the Koenigsthul rock was worth the hike.

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virgule

29 Oct 2024 at 09:20 3600

Hello,

as stated on 4 August 2020

These days, you have to choose between having a view and having peace and quiet. I've just come back from Taennchel. At the Peace Rock in Udine, there's a magnificent view, but you have to queue to see it. And there are people on all the other rocks.

That was after lockdown. It's still true. I'm not a fan of viewpoints where people go to take selfies. So apart from my first routes, published before nature became very popular, the trails I suggest are without viewpoints and peaceful.

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Gmhi68

28 Oct 2024 at 21:10 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Good description. Walk only in the forest, without any viewpoints.

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BonMarcheur67

02 Sep 2024 at 14:14 7200

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Not that easy, but very pleasant in the forest. Pay close attention to the signs. We did this hike with the Viso Rando app, which helped us avoid a few mistakes.

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Rv2m

24 Jun 2024 at 10:34 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk. Description accurate. No issues with signposting. Major earthworks going on at the bottom these days. Take care.

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PARUSSOM

06 May 2024 at 10:41 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

After a wide forest path, the walk continues along a narrow trail following the ridge line in a setting of rocks, moss and pine trees: splendid!

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virgule

11 Aug 2023 at 16:14 7200

Hello,

i did this route again today. On the GR section, you come across other people. On the unmarked section, it's quiet.
If you read the description, you'll see that you take forest paths, which are less steep than the trail.

The only tricky part is after the descent from the rocks. The path to take is to the left of the GR, more or less in the same direction.

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virgule

01 Nov 2021 at 15:46 3600

Hello,

you're right, the St Alexis hostel is a very pleasant place. Closed on Fridays.

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Yogini1210

01 Nov 2021 at 09:15 3600

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Short, easy hike with several options, such as a very short detour to the pretty rocks of Le Tétras or choosing the climbing trail rather than the gentler forest road.
A walk in the forest, no viewpoints, best enjoyed in summer
Tip: if you can extend your walk by half an hour, set off from and return to the St Alexis inn, where you can admire the countryside surrounding the chapel and enjoy a meal either on the terrace or inside, in a small, beautifully renovated room decorated entirely in wood with a tiled stove.

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gregoire.l0462

16 Aug 2021 at 21:10 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very good hike for the whole family. At point 4, don't miss the fork to the right. The climb is a bit long at the beginning but levels off afterwards.

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virgule

14 Jun 2021 at 15:07 7200

Hello,

Firstly, why follow the forest path to Koenigsstuhl instead of following the red rectangle?

This is a deliberate choice on my part, and it is stated in the description. I work on the principle that marked routes do not require a map, topographical map or app.

The advantage of unmarked trails is that they are quiet.

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didwas

14 Jun 2021 at 14:24 7200

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

First observation: why follow the forest path to get to the Koenigsstuhl, instead of following the red rectangle
(which is a more direct and picturesque route) and avoid a return trip between points 2 and 3?
Secondly, why not include the Tétras rock, even if it means making a return trip here?
However, for the rest of the route, I couldn't figure out how to get back to the starting point. There were no directions, only CV-type markers, which were clear, but even with map 3718, it was impossible to find my way.

Another possibility would be to extend the route for the return journey, via Roche du Tétras and passing close to Ursprung, ending via Saint Alexis and returning to the starting point. Admittedly, part of this would be on the road and I have no idea how much extra time this would add.
The quality of the description, not to mention the signposting, seems rather haphazard to me. As an amateur hiker, I would rather rely on directions than have my nose glued to an app.

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virgule

04 Aug 2020 at 18:54 7200

These days, you have to choose between having a view and being left in peace. I've just come back from Taennchel. At the Peace Rock in Udine, there's a magnificent view, but you have to queue to see it. And all the other rocks are crowded with people.

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ptk

04 Aug 2020 at 10:50 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk if you like wide, shaded paths, but a little disappointing if you're hoping for scenic views.
Well-marked route.

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